Let's be honest about what we know here. Waasland-Beveren come into this one as a ghost in the machine — no recent results, no confirmed coach, no formation, no stadium name in the brief. That's not a criticism of them; it's a reality check. We can't pretend they've been tearing it up or grinding out draws when we have zero data. What we do know is that they're hosting Anderlecht, and that alone tells you the gulf in class they're trying to bridge. Anderlecht, meanwhile, are the giants of Belgian football — 34 league titles, five European trophies, a club that expects to win every time they step onto the pitch. Their most recent outing was a 2-1 home win over RAAL La Louvière on August 9, a result that shows they're already ticking over in the new season. It wasn't a demolition, but it was a win, and momentum in August is about getting points on the board while the legs are still heavy. Anderlecht will arrive at this match with that victory fresh in their minds, and that's a dangerous thing for a lower-tier side.

Now, Waasland-Beveren — and here's where we have to be careful — have no data in the brief. No recent scorelines, no form guide, nothing. That's not a green light to invent results. What we can say is that they're a club that has historically bounced between the top flight and the lower divisions, and when they face the big Brussels side, they tend to sit deep and hope. But hope isn't a tactic. Anderlecht, even in a transitional phase, have the individual quality to break down stubborn defences. The home side will need to be perfect for 90 minutes; Anderlecht just need to be themselves for 20. That's the difference between a team with a point to prove and a team with a trophy cabinet.